[fred100]

I think everyone should be aware that the gay activist - Khun Natee Teerarojanpongs, is still pushing to have all gay saunas in Thailand closed, to help stop the spread of HIV. Refer the following:-

http://bkkmindscape.blogspot.com/200...una-peril.html

and the follow-up:

http://bkkmindscape.blogspot.com/200...a-peril-2.html

[sextile]

Originally Posted by fred100

I think everyone should be aware that the gay activist, Khun Natee Teerarojanpongs, is still pushing to have all gay saunas in Thailand closed, to help stop the spread of HIV.
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-- I was unable to download either.
-- Bibi.. --

[Hot Viking]

Yes, very smart. He might as well call for closing all the bars (both Soi 4, Soi 2 and Soi Twillight), the parks, the shopping malls, the internett, the streets and all sorts of other places men meet for sexual encounters.

[Hot Viking]

He must make sure that Malaysia Hotel closes down too.

[brief encounter]

reason saunas survived the first wave of panic in some western countries was that health officials and politicians recognized them as meeting places where aids education in the form of pamphlets and posters could reach the ignorant or those who did not define themselves as gay.some venues in melbourne australia even have testing for stds etc once a week (no pressure)

at babylon in the 90's posters were in place but now not so visible if at all.the other non-farang saunas i have visited did not even have token displays of safe-sex information,though i haven't been for some time.

what good do the campaigns do in 2008? i do not know but saunas unfortunately will be always be under scrutiny when hysteria breaks out and at least they should appear to be responsible citizens as much as they can.condoms,hygiene and some advice is the starting point still.

our own responsibility is paramount but any chronc cruiser knows human nature takes over without regard to consequences at times.

i know this is old hat...to some.

[fountainhall]

what good do the campaigns do in 2008?

Very little, according to the increasingly alarming statistics. But let's not forget it was only a few years ago when Babylon was raided and a senior government or police officer showed a used condom as evidence that sexual activity was taking place there! If senior officials don't know about the importance of condoms, what chance does the rest of the populations have?

Let's not forget, too, that in the USA saunas were closed in the 1980's soon after the extent of the HIV epidemic was discovered - and that rates in the US began to fall thereafter. (Granted that's a simplified conclusion - but closure of the saunas did contribute).

I believe two factors will prod the government to take some sort of action. 1. escalating healthcare costs for the increasing numbers of HIV/AIDS paients. 2. the government's desire to promote the country's image as a family tourist destination.

Only a major and sustained effort by the saunas actively to promote safe sex is likely to get the blessing of Khun Natee who, let's also not forget, has done more than almost anyone to promote gay issues and acceptance in Thailand.